COMMUNITY AND Report to the Welsh Assembly Government Report to the Welsh Assembly Research Study into the Role, Research Study of and Future Potential Functions Councils in and Town University of Wales, Aberystwyth: Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences

Research Study into the Role, Functions and Future Potential of Community and Town Councils in Wales Astudiaeth Ymchwil i Rôl a Swyddogaethau Cynghorau Cymuned a Thref yng Nghymru a’u Potensial i’r Dyfodol i’r Potensial a’u Nghymru yng Thref a Cymuned Cynghorau Swyddogaethau a Rôl i Ymchwil Astudiaeth

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P A rifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth: Y Sefydliad Daearyddiaeth a Gwyddorau Daear droddiad iLywodraethCynulliad Cymru CYNGHORAU CYMUNED A THREF A CYMUNED CYNGHORAU

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Research Study into the Role, Functions and Future Potential of Community and Town Councils in Wales

Final Report to the Welsh Assembly Government

Dr Michael Woods Dr Bill Edwards Dr Jon Anderson Dr Graham Gardner Rachel Hughes

August 2003

FOREWORD

From the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Finance, and Public Services, Sue Essex AM.

Community and town councils have for long been the silent partners in local government. They are the tier of local government which is closest to local people and should be the tier with which the public most closely identifies, but nationally little is known about them. Community and town councils are responsible to their local electorate for delivering a wide range of services and for the provision and upkeep of local amenities. They also represent the views of local people to their county/county councils and other bodies.

This study, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and undertaken by the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University, is the first comprehensive review of the work of community and town councils in Wales. It catalogues all the activities undertaken by local councils. I am pleased to see that the vast majority of community and town councils actively contribute to their areas’ well being. The report also outlines the constraints which local councils face and sets out a number of proposals for enhancing community and town councils’ roles, should councils wish to take on additional responsibilities. The researchers consider that community and town councils have the potential to contribute significantly to the quality of life of local people and to local democracy.

This enhanced role involves close working between the local councils and their county /county borough councils and other bodies. It also involves developing the capacity amongst elected members and officers to deliver those services which would be more appropriately delivered locally. This means working in partnership with others, including other community councils for the benefit of their areas.

The report merits wide discussion within all tiers of local government and by those organisations which impinge on local government and the public. It will ensure that the Assembly’s proposals for community and town councils are base